MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The 14^th Murphy USA Classic is set up and it is looking to be one of the most impactful contests to take place at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado, Arkansas since the Great American Conference's Natural State members began partaking in the annual event. This is the first time that the Murphy USA Classic, that includes two ranked opponents as Southern Arkansas enters week seven the 24^th-ranked team in the land, set to take on the 25^th-ranked Reddies of Henderson State (Rankings determined by AFCA Coaches' Poll).
 
WEEK 7 MATCHUP
>>> The chase for supremacy in the Great American Conference may be observed in Arkadelphia, Arkansas as #1/1 Harding travels to #9/11 Ouachita Baptist, but the league recognizes another ranked matchup in the GAC as the two crews tied for second in the conference are set to battle it out in the Murphy USA Classic in El Dorado, Arkansas.
>>> The two Natural rivals meet for the 88th time in their long history, but clash for just the fourth time in Eldo this Saturday.
>>> The Muleriders, ranked 24th in the latest AFCA poll, have been victors the last two meetings with the Reddies, but entered both as underdogs. Now both are ranked, and for the first time since 2018 Southern Arkansas outranks the Reddies.
>>> With that variable in mind, when the two faced in 2018 was for the 10th Annual Murphy USA Classic. That saw the Muleriders earn their second victory over the Reddies in El Dorado by final of 34-14.
>>> If the story continues the way it has been read so far, this Murphy USA Classic will result in yet another shootout as the last two have totaled 74 and 84 points. Not to mention the two groups both have top-30 offenses (SAU T10th | HSU 27th).
 
Last Week | W, 65-10 at OBU
>>> Domination. The Bison of Oklahoma Baptist brought the herd, and while there was plenty of lightning, their herd was anything but thundering as Southern Arkansas completely dominated the competition prior to and after the 2 hour and 20-minute lightning delay.
>>> The Muleriders' Judd Barton laid claim to his second GAC Offensive Player of the Week title after he spun the pigskin for 19/25, 286 yards, and two touchdowns. The junior also was responsible for 75 yards on 11 carries and three trips to the endzone. In total, the Bayou State native recorded 361 yards and five scores.
>>> Continuing to build his resume to for the SAU Sports Hall of Fame is Jariq Scales as the senior back out of Osceola, Arkansas is now the program's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns as he produced two visits to the endzone last Thursday along with 80 yards on 12 carries.
>>> The Muleriders were ballhawks on the defense as SAU accounted for four interceptions, two of which went to sophomore defensive back Justin Aaron. Aaron needed to be patient for his however, as the native of Natchitoches, Louisiana recorded both of his after the delay.
 
NOTABLES: Southern Arkansas
>>> For the first time in six years, the Muleriders are ranked inside the top-25 of the American Football Coaches Association Coaches' Poll after having rode past the Bison in Shawnee last Thursday in a 65-10 triumph.
>>> Southern Arkansas now looks forward to doing something that has not been done in about two decades. That is, defeat the Reddies of Henderson State for the third-consecutive season.
>>> Last season's win in Arkadelphia marked the first time that the Muleriders had beaten the Reddies in back-to-back seasons since the years 2003-05 while also being the first time since 2004 that SAU had beaten HSU on their home turf.
>>> As the offense continues to progress each week (418.0 yds per game | 26th nationally | 2nd GAC), the Mulerider defense rises to the top of the nation in many rankings such as defensive passing efficiency (92.47 | 4th nationally | 3rd GAC), turnover margin (1.67 | 4th nationally | 1st GAC), turnovers gained (15 | 5th nationally | 2nd GAC), passes intercepted (10 | 6th nationally | T1st GAC).
 
NOTABLES: Henderson State
>>> While the Muleriders have proven to defend the pass well while the Henderson State offense has primarily shown to run through two-time GAC Offensive Player of the Week, quarterback Andrew Edwards.
>>> Edwards is towards the top in many passing statistical categories as the redshirt junior ranks first in the conference for passing touchdowns (15 | 13th nationally), passing yards (1,349 | 35th nationally), passing yards per game (224.8 | 36th nationally), points responsible for (96 | 21st nationally), points responsible for per game (16.0 | 24th nationally), and total offense per game (250.5 | 35th nationally).
>>> In all but two games so far, the Reddies have accounted for 30+ points. The two contests that the Reddies did not score 30+ points came in their battles with Arkansas Tech and the defending national champions Harding.
>>> The Reddies passing offense is just second in the conference, behind Southern Arkansas. Henderson State averages 227.7 passing yards per game, as well as 163.7 rushing yards per game. In total, the Reddies are averaging 391.3 yards of total offense (4th GAC).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
2,183 - the number of days since the Muleriders and the Reddies have faced each other at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado, Arkansas. That Murphy USA Classic also marked the most recent occasion that SAU was ranked entering their annual pairing with Henderson State. Southern Arkansas claimed victory that day 34-14.
68 - the point differential of the Mulerider offense the last three games to the Mulerider offense the first three games. Southern Arkansas has flipped a switch offensively as SAU has averaged in its last three contests 50.66 points per game. The most points scored in a game this season keeps rising by the week since the Muleriders fell to now #9/11 Ouachita Baptist.
44 - the number of rushing touchdowns recorded by Mulerider Football's all-time leading rusher, leader in all-purpose yards, and now the leader in rushing touchdowns. Jariq Scales continues to add to his already incredible resume each week as the Osceola, Arkansas native is nearly out of rushing records to break.
2 - the number of players in this contest that have won a Great American Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor twice this season. This is the lone game in the conference to have that variable as SAU's Judd Barton and HSU's Andrew Edwards are set to convene in El Dorado. The two QBs are also the top two athletes in the league for total offense.